Theological Education for a New Millennium

Theological Education for a New Millennium

Justo Mwale Theological College: a Story of Theological Education in Zambia Towards The Third Millennium

An overview of the state of theological education in Africa would be helpful. A first reading of such overviews is usually positive. A second one becomes uneasy and realises the difficulties of such endeavours. A post-modern sensitivity would rather opt for something more concrete, local and specific. This is the approach of this paper and the focus will be on the narrative of one theological college - Justo Mwale Theological College in Lusaka, Zambia. Even such a modest venture is still from one particular perspective; someone else may tell the story differently.
The telling of stories is fraught with ideological motifs. This narrator is conscious of at least two interests: that the narrative may reveal some structural similarities with other theological institutions in Zambia. A common geographical location, and a common political and economic history put us all in a straitjacket of converging struggles and hopes. Another conscious concern of narrating the story is to accept responsibility for the future. To tell a story is to take stock of where we are and where we want to go. This is the thrust of the paper. Our stories cannot escape the power of the third millennium.

Rian Venter

The Commission for Theological Education and Interchange of the Reformed Ecumenical Council.

October 1999

Pieter C. Potgieter, Editor

Justo Mwale University

PDF

English

Theological Education